NineBerry wrote:Yes, it is false. German's highest court has confirmed that the holocaust is a historical fact. Denying it does legally not count as an opinion. It is a factually wrong assertion.
Factually wrong assertions are still free speech. People are entitled to assert incorrect things, like the Moon Hoax.
The holocaust is a historical fact like the Roman conquest of Gaul is a historical fact. But, people should be able to deny the accuracy of the historical accounts of all or part of them.
History is not settled in courts of law.
NineBerry wrote:Libel is not only a matter for civil courts in Germany. Libel is actually a crime and no special damage other than that to reputation must be shown.
Yeah - and in some countries one can be liable for damages in libel even if one tells the truth. Some places are bonkers.
NineBerry wrote:The point here is: Different countries have different legal cultures and traditions. In Germany, we do criminalize hateful speech.
I know. Some places are flat out bonkers. They do that in Saudi Arabia too, and other places where negative statements about some religions are criminalized.
NineBerry wrote: So, the law against denying nazi crimes is not a special law. It fits very well into the context of german legal culture.
I'm sure it does.
Germany is also the country that committed the holocaust, so I guess I can understand their embarrassment in having it brought up. But, nevertheless, it's a weirdly silly law that is akin to the US making it a crime to deny the official account of 9/11/01, or to deny that the attack on Pearl Harbor on 12/7/41 is to be blamed solely on the Japanese.
NineBerry wrote:Oh: And there were individual cases of lamp shades made from human skin. It just didn't happen often, but it did happen.
No it didn't.
Well, at least no human skin lampshades were ever found. The story is basically a legend. The Nazis did other things just as horrific, but apparently not THAT particular thing. It's important to be able to talk these things through.
Doesn't mean atrocities didn't happen. But, if you legislate away denial, then it will result in legislating away the right to find the truth.
"There is not a court in Heaven or Earth...where Horace Rumpole is not ready and willing to appear. On the Day of Judgment I shall probably be up on my hind legs putting a few impertinent questions to the prosecutor."